Spring and Port Wine, the heart-warming Bill Naughton comedy set in Bolton, is the next production by The Phoenix Theatre Company.

It will run from January 18 to 21 at Chorley Old Road Methodist Community Hall.

Spring and Port Wine was first seen on BBC TV in April 1958, entitled, My Flesh, My Blood.

The Sunday Times commented that Naughton showed , 'a perfect ear for the Lancashire mode of speech and thought. He obviously has the gift for recreating the atmosphere in which a great many real families live and move.' The play is set in the 60s and is about the Crompton family who live in Bolton. The father Rafe Crompton is an engineer at the cotton mill where his teenage daughter Hilda and his youngest son Wilfred work.

Director Alan Macpherson said: "The family is essentially happy and united in spite of the children's criticism of their father's outlook on life. The main action centres on a herring and Hilda's refusal to eat it one Friday evening simply because she doesn't fancy it. In October 1959, the Bolton Repertory Players performed the stage version of the play at the Bolton Hippodrome. Bill Naughton wrote to the producer to send his good wishes for the opening night and his regrets at being unable to attend.

He went on to write, "They can say what they like, but there is no audience amongst which I feel so at home as a Bolton theatre audience. In fact I could almost say that I've written the entire play with such an audience in mind. It used to be my ambition just to go to the theatre, and so you will appreciate I feel right set up about this event, having a play on."

The film version Spring and Port Wine starring James Mason was shot on location in Bolton in 1969. Bill Naughton died in 1992.

Mr Macpherson added: "This is the 40th anniversary of the play's West End opening, so we offer this production as our their tribute to Bill Naughton, a dazzling chronicler of Lancashire life."

The cast includes Robin Thompson, Carolyn Haslam, Jason Crompton, Daniel Whitehead, Jacky Gill, Louise Davenport, Emma Fox and Martin Pearce.

Tickets are available from 01204 840448 and curtain up is at 7.30pm. In good old Lancashire tradition (and in keeping with the play), Hot Pot Supper is available at every performance. This can be ordered when booking tickets.